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Curriculum Year 7

Subject

Course Details

Art

At KS3 students study Art and Design as part of a carousel in a total of eighteen lessons per year. They have the opportunity to work on two distinct projects, informed by a wide range of contemporary, historical and cultural sources, reflecting the diverse field of Art and Design from Fine Art to Illustration. Themes currently studied include ‘Self-Identity’ and ‘Camouflage’ in Year 7. A streamlined and skills-based curriculum is offered at this stage where students learn to use 2D and 3D media such as painting, drawing, paper construction and collage. Students also gain an understanding in the basics of Art and Design such as colour theory and composition, and are encouraged to use their own ideas and imagination.

The curriculum is designed to build confidence in students making skills as well as enjoyment when engaging with all areas of visual culture.

Computing

Year 7 complete 2 blocks of computing each of 6 weeks (9 lessons each block) as part of a rotation with Art and RS.

There are 2 units in Year 7 Computing. Programming using Python language.HTML scripting.

As an introduction to using computers all year 7 and 8 students complete a standalone lesson on Internet safety. Students also participate in a National Campaign: Safer Internet Day, creating large posters for display around the academy during February.

Year 7 Carousel 1: Programming using Python. Students learn the basics of programming in Year 7, which the basic concepts of programming such as: output statements, variables, mathematical operators, if statements and loops. Students learn to create a simple programme using a set of instructions.

Year 7 Carousel 2: Year 7 will learn HTML coding using Notepad+ and Adobe Dreamweaver. Students will cover key vocabulary, learn how to use tags, Cascading Style Sheets, HTML Form Elements, Input Attributes, Input Types, HTML colour names, HTML Doctypes, etc. Students will use all these skills to create a basic webpage/s based on a specific topic that is fit for purpose and for a particular target audience.

Drama

The Key Drama Skills of Communication, Co-operation, Confidence and Commitment are introduced and explored during early lessons. An emphasis is placed upon developing effective group work skills and routines in a practical environment. Students are introduced to a range of Drama Skills including, but not exclusively, Role Play, Narration, Mime and Thought Tracking. Students respond to and create Drama based on a range of stimuli – from Poetry such as ‘What has Happened to Lulu’ to exploring elements of a Shakespeare text –i.e. The Tempest. Students have the opportunity to explore different issues such as bullying and relationships. They develop their rehearsal process, performance and evaluation skills; both of their own work and the work of others.

English

Year 7 begins with a transition unit on Greek myth, enabling teachers to assess students’ reading and writing skills quickly, and to ease students into the routines of the secondary English classroom. Students then follow a chronological curriculum, from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream through the Romantic and Victorian eras, ending the year studying a modern (post-1900) novel. Students also benefit from a fortnightly lesson dedicated to writing.

Food

Students learn about food hygiene and food safety and make different dishes that teach them about nutrition and culinary skills such as apple crumble, rubbing in method, soup, chopping and basic nutrition, product analysis, cookie making and designing healthy snacks that meet the national dietary goals.

Geography

Six topics are covered throughout Year 7. Each topic adopts an enquiry approach with an overall key question that the students will be able to answer by the end of the topic. A range of human and physical geography concepts are taught which encourage students to develop their geographical awareness and basic geography skills; both on a local, regional and international scale.

Students complete a baseline assessment within their first week at London Academy, followed by subsequent end-of-topic tests to assess their level of geography mastery.

Topics taught are:

Aut 1: Where should Jake Geography and his family visit in the UK?

Aut 2: What work do rivers do?

Spr 1: Where should Jake Geography settle?

Spr 2: Where would you build your new seaside resort?

Sum 1: Why is the weather wild?Sum 2: How dangerous is our planet?

An end of year exam is completed in the Summer term to allow students to identify the brilliant progress they will have made.

History

In year 7 students are introduced to key skills as historians such as causation, bias and the use of evidence. Students study six units, one per half term, on how the Normans gained control of England, the importance of religion in Medieval England, and the increasing power of the people from medieval times to the Twentieth Century. They then study the Reformation of the church under Henry VIII, the Industrial Revolution and British Empire, and the migration of people to these islands through time. Students are assessed throughout the year in an enquiry question each half term, and these questions can be found inside the cover of each student's exercise book.

Literacy

DEAR (Drop Everything and Read) is daily reading from 8.15 – 8.41 using a wide range of quality texts (fiction and non-fiction). In addition, for those students with a reading age of less than 9 years 6 months, a highly structured one-to-one phonics program (Toe by Toe) is delivered three times a week by Y10 and Y12 mentors (Wednesday, Thursday and Friday Form Time).

Maths

In Year 7 students start a mathematics mastery curriculum. The curriculum is organised using the concept of “mastery”, ensuring students have comprehensive knowledge of key number concepts before moving on. Students study key concept in number, algebra, shape and data. The curriculum reflects the changes in the curriculum made by the government; with an emphasis on problem solving and mathematical reasoning. The Year 7 curriculum is designed to address any gaps in knowledge/misconceptions that may have arisen is KS2. Students use Pearson text books to support work in lessons and every student is given the corresponding work book in which to complete home work. Homework is set via the Show My Homework system twice per fortnight and is either peer assessed or marked by the class teacher. Students are set on entry to year 7 using an access test and KS2 raw scores. Students are assessed at the start of a learning module, using a pre learning test and at the end of a module, with a post learning test, to check the amount of progress that has been made. From this, interventions are put in place to ensure all students make the expected progress by the end of the academic year. Sets are reviewed on a termly basis based on formal and teacher assessment. Students are re-tested at the end of Year 7 to measure the progress made that academic year, with time allowed at the end of the year for teachers to address any areas for improvement before students move into Year 8.

MFL

In Year 7 students learn to express themselves in the fundamentals of the target language. Schemes of work cover the following topics: ‘Introductions’, ‘Self and family’, ‘House and town’, ‘My school day’, ‘Holidays’ and ‘Free time’. Students also explore cultural themes and spend a half term looking at a different country that speaks the target language. Assessments take place every half term, and are based around the four key language skills: Listening, Reading, Speaking and Writing. By the end of the year, students are able to offer opinions on the various topics they have studied and discuss events in the present and future tenses.

Music

In Year 7 and 8 students have one 100 minute music lesson each fortnight. In Year 7 students routinely learn keyboard, notation and musical language. During keyboard lessons the students work individually and progress at their own rate. They are assessed frequently so that we can monitor progress and set targets for improvement. Year 7 students cover four schemes of work over the year; The Popular Song, A Great Work (Beethoven’s 5th Symphony), Les Miserables and Keyboard skills. Through these schemes the students develop instrumental and ensemble performance skills, listening and analysis skills and composition skills. The students work in groups to develop performances inspired by the schemes. They are then encouraged to showcase their work at our concerts. Year 7 students are invited to attend lunchtime music clubs and choir. Peripatetic instrumental lessons are available for all students. Students who learn orchestral instruments can also play in our orchestra.

PSHEE

The Years 7-9 PSHEE course is designed to enhance students’ understanding and awareness of the personal, health, social, and economic issues important to the development of young people. Areas of study include Sex & relationships education, Assessing & managing risk & personal safety, Personal identities, Prejudice & discrimination, Stereotyping. Debate and discussion, group activities, workshops, extended assemblies and independent reflection are important elements of the course.

PE

In Year 7 students are taught a wide variety of different activities/sports. Including team games such as Football, Netball, Rugby, Cricket, Rounders and Basketball. As well as individual activities such as Tennis, Trampolining and Athletics. Pupils will also receive a block of both fitness training and swimming. Outside of lessons pupils will also have the opportunity to participate in an extensive range of after school activities and represent the school in borough, county and national competitions

RE

Year 7 follow the Barnet Agreed Syllabus where they will be learning about Religious figures such as Moses, Jesus and Muhammad under the topic of Moral Authority & Guidance in their 1st carousel. In their 2nd carousel Year 7 students explore spirituality and the ways in which spirituality is expressed by looking at artefacts, pilgrimage, music, art, etc.

Resistant Materials

In Year 7, students undertake a night light project. Students cut finger joints in 6mm plywood to create a basic box. They then solder a circuit which detects when it is dark and emits a soft light from the inbuilt LED. Whilst doing this, students learn about different electronic components and soldering. Students design a Perspex front with an image of their choice on and their name. Through doing this, they learn how to use CAD and CAM as the laser cutter creates the design on the Perspex.

Science

In Year 7, students take the new KS3 science programme of study with a number of key concepts that underpin the study of science and how science works. Students study Biology (Living systems, diet and health and reproduction), Chemistry (particles, atoms, elements and compounds and Acids & Alkalis) and Physics (energy, electricity and electromagnetism and forces) over the year. There are several extended investigations carried out over the year, involving developing their skills including collaborating with peers, applications and implications of science and their enquiry and practical skills. Students are assessed through written tests.

Textiles

In Textiles year 7 students learn how to set up and maintain a sewing machine. Students work through a skills book where they provide evidence of fabric painting, machine embroidery, applique, hand sewing and quilting. Each skill is labelled with a step by step which is then later used to produce a fabric painted quilted cushion suitable for a child. The cushion is a final product where students have the opportunity to combine the skills they have learnt in the first part of the term.